Board Members Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews to
headline Oct. 2 all-star music and food festival

MILWAUKEE—Farm Aid took to the field today to reveal details about its 25th
anniversary benefit concert, scheduled for Oct. 2 at Miller Park in Milwaukee.

Farm Aid founders Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp joined executive director
Carolyn Mugar by webcast at an on-field news conference at the home of the
Milwaukee Brewers to reveal details about the all-day music festival that will
mark their 25th year.

“For 25 years, Farm Aid has worked to keep family farmers on the land,” said
Nelson. “This anniversary concert is a chance for everyone to join with Farm Aid
to support the family farmers who are growing hope for America, through the good
food they produce, the economies they build, and their care for the soil and
water. Family farmers are the backbone of our country, and right now we need
them more than ever.”

“Midwest farmers share the same struggle as family farmers across the country.
They are survivors, and they’re on the land creating solutions for America’s
most pressing issues,” said John Mellencamp from his home-state of Indiana.
“Since 1985, Farm Aid has been a way for everyone in this country to step up and
be part of the solution, because nobody is going to solve these problems on
their own. It’s going to take all of us working together.”

Farm Aid 25: Growing Hope for America will feature Nelson, Mellencamp, and
fellow Farm Aid board members Neil Young and Dave Matthews, with other top
artists to be announced. The show will be broadcast live on DirecTV.

The all-day festival will be a celebration of music, family farmers and good
food and will again feature HOMEGROWN concessions—family-farm identified, local
and organic foods. Farm Aid’s HOMEGROWN Village will showcase hands-on
activities that give concertgoers a chance to meet farmers, get their hands
dirty, and learn how family farmers are protecting our land and water and
connecting us to our roots.

“Today's headlines are dominated by the immense challenges we face right now as
a result of unbridled corporate control, from our economy to the destruction of
the environment and our health. None of these problems will be solved without
family farmers,” said Farm Aid executive director Carolyn Mugar. “For
twenty-five years Farm Aid has helped family farmers stay on the land so that
they can be our country’s resource to address these crises.”

Set to take place at Miller Park, Farm Aid 25: Growing Hope for America will be
the first Farm Aid concert to be held at a Major League Baseball stadium.

“We’re excited to be hosting Farm Aid in this special anniversary year,” said
Rick Schlesinger, the Milwaukee Brewers’ executive vice president of business
operations. “With Wisconsin’s prominence in the agriculture and farming
industries, plus Milwaukee’s storied history in hosting music festivals, we
believe there is no better place for this concert to be staged.”

Also appearing at the news conference were John Kinsman, president, Family Farm
Defenders and Wisconsin dairy farmer; and Will Allen, founder and CEO, Growing
Power, Inc.

Tickets for Farm Aid 25: Growing Hope for America will go on sale Saturday,
August 14, at 9 a.m. CDT and are available at the Brewers box office, by phone
at (414) 902-4000 or online at www.tickets.com. Ticket prices range from $39.50
to $97.50, including facility fee.

Farm Aid will offer special advance sale tickets to Farm Aid members beginning
Friday, August 6. To become a Farm Aid member, visit www.farmaid.org.

Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of
agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil
Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds
to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose
family farm food. Since 1985, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who
contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $37 million to
support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food
Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture
and promote food from family farms.